So far Solomon has failed to gain the
affection of the Shulamite, so he increases his momentum to win her heart. In
Song 6:4-10, we see him renewing his flattery for her. Addressing her as his
darling, he begins by saying that she is as beautiful as Tirzah and as lovely
as Jerusalem. Both these cities were considered as the two most beautiful
cities of the land of Israel. So, Solomon compares her to these twin beauties
of the nation. He sees her as a victorious troop displaying the awesome banner
of victory. This is by way of saying that her beauty is so overwhelming.
If Solomon could fall for ladies far less beautiful and charming than the
Shulamite, he surely wouldn’t be able to resist the simple charm of this
unpretentious Shulamite. And so he did.
The gaze of the Shulamite is so
overpowering that Solomon requested that she not stare at him. The simple
gazing of her attractive eyes is so irresistible and it makes him feel queasy.
He just simply could not resist her. At a loss for words, he resorts to the
same words he used to describe her in Song 4:1-2. He tells her, “Your hair is
like a flock of goats that have descended from Gilead. Your teeth are like
a flock of ewes which have come up from their washing, all of which
bear twins, and not one among them has lost her young. Your temples are
like a slice of a pomegranate behind your veil.” As far as Solomon is
concerned, none of the beautiful ladies of his harem is as beautiful and lovely
as this Shulamite. At this point in time, Solomon’s harem has not reached
his 300 wives and 700 concubines as yet. Hence, he refers to “sixty queens and
eighty concubines.” He could see that the beauty of the Shulamite surpasses
them all. Not only is she as pure as a dove but she is also unique, exquisite
and delightful in every way. Solomon is attracted by her innocence, purity, and
modesty.
Besides, she is not only the admiration
of Solomon but also all daughters of Jerusalem and the ladies of his harem. So fabulously
beautiful is the Shulamite that both the daughters of Jerusalem as well as the
ladies of the harem are dazzled by her beauty. The very moment they set eye on
her, they are all astounded by her beauty, quality, and moral excellence. So,
the daughters of Jerusalem call her blessed and the ladies of the harem praise her.
So, they naturally enquire of each
other, asking “Who is this that grows like the dawn, as beautiful as the
full moon, as pure as the sun, as awesome as an army with
banners?” These are poetic expressions to describe her sublime beauty
which is like the freshness of the dawn. Besides, she is as fair as the moon
and as warm and pure as the sun. And her beauty is simply beyond
comparison. Verses 11-12 reveal how she came to be given to Solomon in
marriage. One moment she was in her garden attending to the plants when
suddenly and hastily, she had attracted the attention of Solomon and given to
him in marriage. Soon she was in the royal entourage and on the way to the
palace. In verse 13, she chided herself for being overly curious. If she had
not been so curious, she would not be caught in this predicament.
Wanting
to escape the ogling eyes of the harem, she distanced herself from all the
ladies. They then pleaded with her to return so that they might admire her
beauty. Notice that not until verse 13 did the term “Shulamite” appear. In this
verse, we see the term “Shulamite” used to describe this lovely maiden for the
first time. The whole purpose of this verse is to underscore the irresistible
beauty of the Shulamite. She is the attraction of all who set their eyes on
her. However, she herself refuses to be a spectacle. So, she exclaimed in the
last two lines of verse 13 saying “Why should you gaze at the Shulammite,
as at the dance of the two companies?” She is timid and modest and
does not want to make a big show of herself.
Christians should be the most beautiful people on
earth. And each of us must maintain our beauty
in the Lord. We will become more and more beautiful as we become more and more
Christlike. When we bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is cultivated as we
abide in Christ, we will become attractive like Him. However, do bear in mind
that the world with all its jingles is still appealing, and many are being drawn
towards them. If we are not watchful, we may unwittingly seek to satisfy our
curiosity by dabbling in what we think is harmless. Before long we may be ensnared
by them. This is often the case, what first appears to be harmless can become
an entrapment when we become overly indulgent. Perhaps that’s the reason we are
asked to be watchful. First Peter 5:8 warns us to “Be of sober spirit, be
on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” First Corinthians 16:13
also exhorts us, saying “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be
strong.” We must submit to God and resist the devil and He will flee from us.
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